NFL

Disappointing Texans have dropped 4 straight

HOUSTON (AP)

Six games into the season, the year has quickly soured for a
supposed championship contender. The Texans have lost four in a row
and the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs await.

Houston's biggest problem has been turnovers. The Texans are
allowing the fewest yards in the NFL (252.8), and are gaining the
seventh most (395.7). But they have 12 more turnovers than their
opponents, second most in the NFL.

''Turnovers get you beat in this league and they're getting us
beat on a consistent basis,'' coach Gary Kubiak said.

And the status of quarterback Matt Schaub - battered by
criticism - is unclear because of an injury he sustained on a sack
in the third quarter Sunday.

''Obviously he's very sore and beat up on the leg, ankle -
everywhere,'' Kubiak said. ''So obviously we'll have to see where
he's at - probably got a little bit lucky there.''

Kubiak said Schaub was receiving injections for his injury
Monday afternoon. Schaub left after Sunday's game before talking to
reporters so he could have tests done.

Schaub didn't have a turnover Sunday after throwing six
interceptions, three of them returned for touchdowns in the past
three games.

''I thought he stepped up and improved,'' Kubiak said. ''You can
always play better, but I thought he was doing things much
better.''

Fans have been clamoring for Schaub to be benched in favor of
Yates as he struggled. But when Yates got a chance to play Sunday,
things didn't go well. He threw two interceptions, the first of
which was returned 98 yards for a touchdown.

Whoever is at quarterback for Houston on Sunday will face a
Kansas City defense allowing the NFL's fewest points a game at just
10.8. The Chiefs also lead the NFL in sacks with 31 this
season.

''They're exceptional and even better at home with the crowd and
what they've got going there,'' Kubiak said of the Chiefs.
''They've been pretty special.''

The Texans have already lost the same number of games as in the
entire 2012 regular season, which has some wondering if Kubiak's
job is in jeopardy. He said he has plenty of other things to
concern himself with and isn't thinking about that.

''I think I've probably been asked that a few times in my eight
years,'' he said. ''I've got a lot of people to worry about, a lot
of players, a lot of coaches. I think it would be very selfish if I
worried about myself, so no, I do not.''

Another problem for Houston has been penalties. The Texans had
95 yards of penalties on Sunday and have 46 penalties for 459 yards
this season. Kubiak is trying everything to get the Texans to clean
up their play.

''You've just got to emphasize in every possible way what you
can on the practice field, in the meeting room,'' he said. ''That's
about all you can do. Just paying as much attention to it as you
possibly can.''

Also injured in Sunday's loss to St. Louis was safety Danieal
Manning, who Kubiak said has a ''significant knee injury.'' He said
they are still evaluating the injury.

Shiloh Keo will fill in for Manning. Keo was a fifth-round draft
pick in 2011 who spent time on the practice squad that year before
appearing in 14 games last season. Kubiak also said cornerback
Brandon Harris could move to safety if they need more help.

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